FRAUD ALERT: EFCC Arrests 4 Directors Of The National Theatre.

Tar Ukoh.

I had previously brought to the notice of the public, insubordination, the total disregard and disrespect on the Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed by the Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Nigeria, Mr. Tar Udoh who does not take orders from the minister, even as the supervising minister for the theatre.

Even as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arrested four directors of the National Theatre in Lagos for alleged embezzlement of government funds.

The four directors, including a woman, were picked up at their Iganmu office for allegedly diverting “huge sums” of revenue and statutory allocation into private use.

It was learnt that the directors allegedly failed to remit revenues realised from the use of facilities at the National Theatre into the Federal Government Treasury Single Account (TSA).

According to sources, among government revenue allegedly embezzled were N24 million annual rent paid by Nigerian Breweries for its 20 branded kiosks and N9 million paid for the use of National Theatre during the “Lagos @ 50” celebrations.

The directors may have felt that since the Artistic Director, Tar Ukoh is completely running the agency from Job, the Plateau state capital and has refused to listen nor take directives from the Minister of Information and Culture, it would be a good idea for them to help themselves, even though there is no justifications for what they did.

I therefore ask that the president, Muhammadu Buhari steps into this matter and compel Mr. Tar Ukoh to relocate to the headquarters of the agency to do his work, obey his supervising minister or resign if he is overwhelmed.